South Bay

Inglewood Appoints Interim Police Chief

Lt. Alex Perez, who has worked with the Inglewood Police Department for 13 years, will become the department's interim police chief March 1 while a search for a new police chief is begun.

Perez, 43, will step in a day after Police Chief Oliver Thompson retires Feb. 28 after heading the department for the last five years.

City Manager Paul Eckles said he will ask the City Council at tonight's meeting to sign a contract with an executive recruiter to help with hiring a new police chief. Eckles expects the city to accept applications during the next five to eight weeks.

Currently, Perez is the department's patrol day watch commander. He has worked with four police departments in two states. He spent two years with the Redondo Beach Police Department and seven years with police departments in Washington state.

Thompson, 54, said he is retiring to spend more time working as a minister at the Crenshaw Christian Center in Los Angeles.